A STYLISH GARDEN MARQUEE WEDDING AT FINDON PLACE : RUTH & ANDY
Photography By Emma Wilder Photography
Ruth & Andy’s wedding took place at a beautiful county house wedding venue in West Sussex. Findon Place is a privately-owned estate, gracefully nestled within the South Downs National Park. This Georgian masterpiece retains its stunning original features, while having been meticulously renovated with a blend of timeless and elegant yet relevant decor. Surrounded by manicured lawns, vibrant floral borders, and lush gardens, the estate offers a serene and picturesque setting. Complete with a swimming pool, tennis court, and various sophisticated entertaining spaces, this majestic property is perfect for entertaining guests.
The couple contacted us to be their UK wedding planners with the main priority being for their day to be a carefully crafted experience for their guests. They wanted them to feel like their wedding was an extension of their loves and a true reflection of their personalities. An occasion that felt like home. We assisted in weaving Ruth and Andy’s musical, visual, and culinary loves throughout their wedding day.
For her wedding day, Ruth chose a couture gown from the iconic bridal fashion house Vivienne Westwood, celebrated for its mastery in accentuating the female form with a signature punk edge. She paired the look with pointed Jimmy Choos. The dress featured a cinched waist and a draped neckline, inspired by the classic Vivienne Westwood Ball Tie gown. To elevate her look, Ruth added a detachable Galaxy cape bringing an extra touch of drama and elegance. This stunning ensemble transitioned effortlessly from day to night, embodying both timeless beauty and modern flair.
Their traditional with-a-twist wedding ceremony took place at St. John's Church, just a two-minute walk from the Findon Place country house estate. Ruth made her entrance to a live acoustic rendition of "Simply The Best" from Schitt’s Creek, a favourite TV show of theirs which held many nostalgic memories of nights on the sofa when they first began dating. She met her love at the quaint church altar adorned with an asymmetrical foliage installation that climbed gracefully up to the apex of the roof. This not only framed the couple beautifully but hinted to the stylish English garden theme. They recessed as husband and wife to the traditional church bells.
After the wedding ceremony guests lined either side of the beautiful entrance leading up to the front of the house and tossed confetti on the new Mr & Mrs Geggus. At the conclusion of the line, a country-roaming band emerged bursting into a rendition of the iconic Friends theme song surprising guests, and proceeding to parade them through Findon Place’s beautiful panelled hall.
After being guided to the secluded pool area surrounded by vibrant borders of English blooms, guests were treated to an experience that mirrored the bride and groom's favourite way of entertaining at home - with margaritas and a Mexican feast! Guests indulged on miniature Mexican morsels like prawn tacos, nacho cones overflowing with guacamole, salsa, and sour cream, and personalized bottles of spicy Picantes. The atmosphere spontaneously ignited transforming unplanned moments filled with joyful sing-alongs as our roaming band burst into a fresh chorus taking song requests throughout
We designed the marquee to emulate a stylish garden-style restaurant. The white shelter of the Sail & Peg structure was softened with lush greenery foliage installations climbing the poles and wooden planters bursting with white and green florals, artfully defining the dining area. Guests were seated at round and long tables hosting a mixture of floral sculptures, delicate glass and patterned Pooki lamps, and the warm glow of flickering green and oatmeal candles. Hints of wood, fringed parasols, and rattan details infused the space with a chic, laid-back vibe.
Dinner unfolded as a curated journey through the newlyweds’ favourite dishes, each course thoughtfully paired with wines that held sentimental meaning—evoking memories from their first date and the place where they got engaged. Guests revelled in the celebration as it grew, flowing effortlessly into the evening and setting the perfect tone for the party to come.
Our goal when planning any luxury occasion is to constantly try and push the boundaries of the norm, and curate ideas and spaces that guests wouldn’t usually expect to see. Those unobtrusive, untraditional wows that become some of the most memorable. We crafted a new immersive experience for the evening, transforming the space outside the marquee into a charming late-night restaurant replicating the Pizza Trattoria of one of Ruth & Andy’s favourite first holidays. We sectioned off the area with real hedging, draped festoon lighting overhead, and rolled in a rustic pizza truck, then added nuances such as red-and-white gingham tablecloths, bistro tables, hand-drawn chalkboards, and personalized pizza boxes. Tipsy guests feasted on freshly made sourdough Italian pizzas, adding a delightful artisanal touch to the evening as they indulged in this unexpected after-dark space.
The wedding party was a classic dance-all-night soiree. A high-energy end to an incredible day starting with a first dance covered in confetti and ending with 2024’s newly reincarnated song ‘Unwritten Natasha Beddingfield’. Good classic beautiful fun, a full dancefloor, ties were worn as headbands, shoes were kicked off, and laughter echoed through the marquee as everyone let loose. It was the kind of night where every song felt like a favourite, and the party spirit never wavered—a celebration that no one wanted to end.
THE ANTITHESIS OF A COOKIE-CUTTER WEDDING
‘Emily is a wedding planning wizard. From our initial call right at the beginning of our wedding planning journey we knew Emily was exactly what we wanted and needed. Receiving the design guide a few months in allowed us to really visualise the vibe/style of the day and it blew us away - there was nothing missed by Emily along the way.
Emily is so professional and takes everything in her stride - We felt like Emily really got to know us and our passions and incorporated them into our wedding day, making it the ultimate reflection of our personalities.
A wedding with In Awe Weddings is the complete antithesis of a cookie-cutter wedding - and the guests on the day were blown away by the attention to detail (finally someone to match my details freak!).
We had the wedding of our dreams and it really wouldn’t have been possible without Emily and her team.’